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- Patented Apr. 23, 1889.

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I J. M.'FINKL PROCESS OF FORMILIG FLEXIBLE SADDLE TREES. No..401,938.Patented-A r. 23, 1889.

WITNESSES mi'mrgo ZdLuLriZWc QEZZ/ Z:

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' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN M. FINK, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR TO FINK & FELDHAUS,

OF SAME PLACE.

PROCESS OF FORMING FLEXIBLE SADDLE-TREES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 401,938, dated April23, 1889.

Application filed June 30,1888.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN M. FINK, a citizen of the United States,residing at Louis ing saddle-trees of layers of leather or otherflexible material; and it consists in the carrying out of the severalsteps hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the press employed incarrying out my invention. Fig.2 is a sectional view thereof. Fig. 3 isa plan View of the interior surface of the top and bottom dies; Fig. 4is a perspective View of the tree in course of construction. Fig. 5 is asimilar view after it is compressed. Figs. 6 and 7 are perspective viewsof two forms of completed trees.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one form of strengthening-plate used inthe construction of the tree.

Corresponding parts in the figures are denoted by the same letters ofreference.

.In carrying out my invention, after the leather orv other flexiblematerial is thoroughly moistened a layer, A, forming the bottom of thetree, is drawn over the surface of the bottom die, B, of the press 0,said layer being sufficiently large to cover the die; or it may bespliced out to the requisite size, and can be fastened to the die, iffound preferable. The tree is then built up with suitable pieces, 1),preferably secured to the bottom layer by an adhesive substance or bytacks. The pieces I) are disposed in such manner as to leave the centrallongitudinal portion'of the tree thin, such construction being designedto prevent inj uryto the horses back. After the tree has been built tothe desired thickness the top layer or cover, D, is placed upon thetree. The cover may be of one solid piece, or it may be of two or morepieces spliced together, and is preferably secured to the tree by anadhesive substance orby tacks.

When the tree is thus far completed, it is placed within the press underthe top die, E,

Serial No. 278,618. (No model.)

and pressed between the dies to give it the proper contour. The tree isleft in the press as long as necessary, when it is removed therefrom,together with the bottom die, upon which it is left to dry sufficientlyto retain its contour. It can then be pressed-again if found necessary.WVhen the tree has been sufficiently dried, the edges are trimmed to thedesired shape and size, and, if found preferable, the complete tree maybe partially or entirely stitched or tacked around the edge.

If desired, I may employ one or more suitable gullet or stiffeningplates, F, either within the tree during the course of construction orupon the top or bottom surface of the tree. These plates may be of anypreferred construction; but in some forms of tree it has been foundpreferable to employ the construction shown in Fig. 8, which consists ofan approximately U-shaped spring-plate, S, disposed lengthwise of thetree and preferably secured at its ends to a gullet-plate.

It will be obvious that I may use any construction of dies or press inthe construction of the trees in lieu of that shown; also that the treesmay be formed of any shape which may be desired.

I am aware that it is not broadly new to make articles of leather byfirst securing layers of the same together and then subjecting them topressure; and to this step 1 make no claim, my invention consisting oftheseveral steps herein described, and point-ed out in the claim.

I claim as my invention- The improved process for forming flexiblesaddle-trees of layers of leather or other flexible material, consistingin first moistening the layers, then building the saddle-tree portionthus formed, then subjecting the tree to pressure between suitable dies,and finally trimming the edges of the layers and strips to the desiredshape and size, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN M. FINK.

Witnesses:

HENRY KOENIG,

GEO. BEAvERsEN.

